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Van Ryck DeGroot intensifies training regimen for Shondell Alfred
Corinne Van Ryck DeGroot
By Michael Benjamin
As Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred prepares for what may possibly be the fight of her career, her opponent, Corinne Van Ryck DeGroot took time off from her training schedule to attend the funeral of former colleague and friend, former World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion, Vernon Forrest who was killed during a robbery just over a week ago.
Kaieteur Sport caught up with DeGroot minutes after she had shown her respect to the fallen champion at his funeral service. Despite a slightly downcast mood, the 40 years old DeGroot shared some of her thoughts about the fight with Alfred. Firstly, she made it quite clear that she is preparing for a tough battle, at the end of which, she would be adjudged the winner.
Dispersing an occasional giggle, DeGroot said that she is very excited by the prospect of visiting Guyana, the home of her parents, Lorraine Vierra and Aubrey DeGroot. She also assured that she is coming to Guyana on business and is rigidly applying herself to her training. At 5 feet 5 inches, Corinne “Goose” Van Ryck DeGroot was born in East York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada forty years ago.
She said that she had done a little homework on her opponent. “I heard she is a brawler but I can match whatever she presents.” However, DeGroot said that she is not interested in brawling with Alfred. “Basically, I am a very technical fighter. I do not want to preempt Alfred’s game plan so I would prefer to assess her during the actual fight and adapt to the situation.”
Oozing confidence, the Canadian born DeGroot admitted that she last entered the ring about two years ago in a fight in Arkansas. She could not remember the name of her opponent. She explained that it was a late replacement. “I was at my best and that chick did not stand a chance,” she said. It took Van Ryck DeGroot just over one round to dispose of her opponent. “I felt bad about that fight because, you know, I like to get some competition in my fights,” DeGroot said.
Indeed, a perusal of her boxing record, placed on the internet, speaks volumes. On April 3, 1999 at the New Frontier in Las Vegas, Nevada, Corinne (133½ lbs) moved her pro record to 5-0 (3 KOs) with a four-round unanimous decision over Sandy Liptak (135 lbs) of Chicago, Illinois. In 2000, she moved to Atlanta, but trained in New York with Joel Judah, the father of former junior welterweight champion, Zab Judah. She says that “Team Judah” was where she learned lessons that still form the basis of her boxing philosophy … that “speed is power” and that “defence is key.”
An unidentified woman wipes away a tear during a funeral service for former boxing champion Vernon Forrest at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga
On May 3, 2001 at Argosy Atrium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Corinne moved her pro record to 6-0 (3 KO’s) with a clear (40-36) four-round unanimous decision over Angie Bordelon of New Orleans, Louisiana. On July 3, 2001 at Southern Star Amphitheatre, Corinne moved to 7-0 (4 KO’s) with a second-round TKO of Philadelphian, Shakurah Witherspoon. She put Witherspoon on the canvas twice in the second round before the bout was stopped.
On September 21, 2001 at Martinez Sports Center in Tampa, Florida, Corinne (128 lbs) won a unanimous six-round decision over Tampa’s Brenda Vickers and improved her record to 8-0. When asked of her current record she said, “I fought 11 times, never tasted defeat and 5 of my opponents failed to answer the last bell. She said that after the fight with Alfred this month end she would be boasting that ‘6 of my opponents failed to answer the last bell.’
DeGroot opposes Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred for the vacant Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) bantamweight title.
Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman is also scheduled to engage Barbadian, Kevin Placide in a 10 round middleweight scrap, while Mitchell Rogers and Anthony Augustin will also square off in a 6 rounds heavyweight fight. The promoters are currently working on the other fights as well as the admission price.
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